|
When students begin school at Provo's Lakeview Elementary in the fall, they won't be getting there with the help of a stoplight.
The Utah Department of Transportation recently completed a traffic study on Geneva Road outside the new school, determining that a stoplight was not warranted. The level of traffic on the road near the school at 1390 North was not high enough, and neither were side-street and pedestrian traffic. Instead, a school zone of 20 mph will be in effect, as well as a crosswalk and crossing guard.
"Our hope is that reducing the speed limit will improve the safety and comfort there around the school," said UDOT spokesman Scott Thompson.
Thompson said intersections are monitored constantly for changing traffic conditions, and the department tries to be responsive to the public. The intersection may receive a stoplight in the future if traffic increases enough after the school opens.
"Once the school's open and we have some activity there, we will definitely be re-evaluating that study," he said.
Thompson said parents may be naturally worried about the safety of intersections, but state and federal requirements prevent UDOT from placing an unwarranted stoplight. The department carefully reviews each intersection on a case-by-case basis and monitors traffic flows for relevant increases to ensure the public's safety.
"We want to make sure everyone's safe, and if there's an accident and somebody gets hurt, we feel bad too," he said.
Greg Hudnall, Provo School District's director of student services, said the district was well aware of what the outcome of the study would be, but it is still disappointing that the students will not have the added safety.
"It's very frustrating to us that we're not getting a stoplight," he said.
UDOT did not want to do a study until the school was open, but Hudnall said pushing for a study earlier has helped lower the speed limit to protect the children. Although the speed limit will be lowered to 20 mph, Hudnall said the district is still very concerned for the students' safety.
"I think it will make it safer, but it will not make it safe or safe enough," he said.
Until there is a stoplight at the intersection, Provo School District will provide a bus to take children from the east side of Geneva Road to the west at a cost of $8,000 to $12,000 each year. Even if there is not enough traffic on the road to warrant a stoplight now, Hudnall said the state's plan to make Geneva Road a larger thoroughfare in the future is a concern for the school.
"We're hoping for the stoplight sooner than later because it is on their master plan," he said.
Provo city Councilwoman Sherrie Hall Everett said that although a stoplight will not be put in yet, a school zone is a good compromise for now. The area is developing quickly, and she said a stoplight will be warranted at some point in the future.
"We're not really dead yet, we're just kind of making progress," she said.
Provo City, UDOT and the school district all worked together to make the intersection safer, and Everett said people involved expressed clear intentions to keep an eye on the safety in the area with the increasing traffic.
"That's a win-win for all in government," she said. |
